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Theater Review: “The Road To Qatar”
The York Theater – Feb 4, 2011 – 8:00 pm

by Elli – The King Of Broadway

Did you hear the one about the two, short, Jewish, Musical Theater writers who get an email from an Emir in Qatar (Dubai) who commissions them to travel there and write a brand new musical to inaugurate the new sports arena? Sounds crazy, no? Well it happened. Imagine a real-life version of a “Road To” movie: “Two Short Jews on the Road To Qatar” (sung to the tune of “Two Lost Souls” from Damn Yankees).

As a kid I was a huge TV watcher (okay, so that never went away), but back then I would often fake being sick just to stay home and watch something I liked on Channel 9’s Million Dollar Movie. Among my favorite guilty pleasures (and I do mean guilty because I was totally faking it), were the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope “Road” flicks. “The Road to Morocco” is among my all-time favorites. So you can understand how happy I was to hear that Stephen Cole and David Krane had turned their real-life Road story into a musical.

“The Road To Qatar” at the York Theatre is a perfect tribute to those “Road” pictures that I love. It is an (almost) true story told and sung by a talented 5 member cast. James Beaman (Spamalot, National Tour) as Michael and Keith Gerchak (Finding Nemo, The Musical) as Jeffrey, portray the talented authors genuinely, if not lovingly. Having had the opportunity to work with their real-life counterparts as they rehearsed the show, their performances are a tribute to their creators. They each add their own perfect, comedic timing to make the two leads sufficiently nebbishy and lovable at the same time. Bill Nolte (La Cage aux Folles) as Mansour – well, just look at those eyes and you’ll fall out of your chair laughing – embodies the sleazy, desert producer out for a buck and a hustle as he carries out his Boss’s every whim. Sarah Stiles (Avenue Q) shines as Nazirah, hired as a translator and go between aiming to please her boss, Mansour, as well as the writers. The very funny Bruce Warren (The Wizard of Oz) is frightening and delightful as Farid, the very serious nephew of the Emir hired to oversee his uncle’s investment. Mr. Warren also gets to display his comedic skills as Claudio, the foppish, flamboyant, Italian director brought in to stage the musical. While speaking of directors, the very creative, playful and talented direction of Phillip George (Forbidden Broadway), makes us feel as if we have been transported into the world of these “two, short, Jews” and their seemingly impossible task to please the Emir.

The opening number Opening serves as an introduction to the story setting the stage for the events to follow. Must Be is the list of rules of what the Musical must contain, while Good Things Come In Threes is the author’s rebuttal to the rules. Doesn’t Matter is a delightful dream sequence where the boys dream about what would happen if their hosts realized that their hires are Jewish. 15 of the 16 songs are original to this show while only one song, Aspire, a great closing number, was actually in the real musical that Messrs. Cole and Krane wrote.

All the shows tunes are enjoyably done in true musical theatre style and are fun to hear and see thanks to the delightful choreography by Bob Richard (Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!), which is spot on for the confines of a small stage. The excellent musical direction/Piano is provided by David Caldwell (Children of Eden) and his wonderful orchestra, Mike Kuenne (Accoustic and Electric Bass), Perry Cavari (Drums/Percussion), Steve Greenfield (Reed One: Flute, Clarinet, Soprano Sax) and Rick Walburn (Reed Two: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax).
It is refreshing to see new theater work (as opposed to a musical remake of some B-flick). Unfortunately, this is a limited run and many shows are close to. or completely, sold out. I strongly suggest that you go immediately to the York Theatre’s website and reserve your tickets and enjoy your trip down “The Road To Qatar”.

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The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) presents the Off-Broadway premiere of the new true musical comedy, The Road to Qatar!, featuring book and lyrics by Stephen Cole and music by David Krane, with direction by Phillip George (Forbidden Broadway), choreography by Bob Richard (Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!) and musical direction by David Caldwell (Children of Eden). The five- member cast features James Beaman (Spamalot, National Tour) as Michael, Keith Gerchak (Finding Nemo, The Musical) as Jeffrey, Bill Nolte (La Cage aux Folles) as Mansour, Sarah Stiles (Avenue Q) as Nazirah, and Bruce Warren (The Wizard of Oz) as Farid.

Performances began Tuesday, January 25, 2011 and continue through Sunday, February 27, 2011 at The Theatre at Saint Peter’s (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street).

The Road to Qatar is a new true musical comedy about two American musical theatre writers commissioned to do the impossible: write a larger-than-life Broadway-style mega-musical for the Emir of Qatar that includes 100 actors, 40 camels, 17 fire-eating jugglers and Muhammad Ali. Surprises abound as the quirky self-professed “short Jewish writers” leave New York and begin trotting the globe in their own version of a madcap Bob Hope/Bing Crosby adventure.
The creative team also includes Michael Bottari & Ronald Case (Set, Costume & Puppet Design), Martin Vreeland (Lights), and Chris Kateff (Projections). The Production Stage Manager is Sarah Hall. The musical is produced by special arrangement with Paul Burchett in association with Coltrane, LLC.

The creative team also includes Michael Bottari & Ronald Case (Set, Costume & Puppet Design), Martin Vreeland (Lights), and Chris Kateff (Projections). The Production Stage Manager is Sarah Hall. The musical is produced by special arrangement with Paul Burchett in association with Coltrane, LLC.

The Road to Qatar will play the following performance schedule: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays- Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., with special Sunday matinee performances on February 13th, 20th & 27th at 2:30pm.

Please visit www.yorktheatre.org for the complete performance schedule. Tickets are $67.50 and are available online at www.yorktheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre at Saint Peter’s (enter on 54th Street, just East of Lexington), and are currently on sale through Sunday, February 27th. Running time is approximately 90 minutes.